Knitting machine



-(No Model.) 7 sheets sheet 1.

J. SOHMITT.

KNITTING MAGHINE.

No. 391,084. Patented Oct. 16, 1888.

2 t e e h s s t e e h S 7 T T m H G S J n d 0 M o m KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Oct. 16, 1888.

J1, 71/1 /01'. 7%- WM,

71/1/nkJJm' 671 yM (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. SCHMITT. KNITTINGMACHINE.

(No Model.) 7\ Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. SGHMITT.

KNITTING MACHINE.

N0. 391,084. Patented 0013. 16, 1888.

(No Model.)

7.Sheets-Sheet 5. -J. SOHMITT,

KNITTING MACHINE. I

Iatented Oct. 16,- 1888.

J: v arz far,

(No Model.) 'z Shets-Shet 6/ J. SOHMITT.

KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 391,084. v Patented Oct. 16, 1888.

MIA/m4 7 Sheets-Sheet 7..

(No Model.)

J. SOHMITT.

KNITTING MAGHINE.

No. 391,084. Patented 001:,- 16, I888.

. J12 2/4 22 fax.

7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHANN SCHMITT, OF ooBLENrz, PRUSSIA, GERMANY, 'ASSIGNOR or Two- THIRDSTO JEAN B. OOBLENZER, or SAME PLACE, AND cam. uUsrAv RoMME HoLLER, OFROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 391,084, dated October16, 1 888.

Application filed July 6, 1887. Serial No. 243.492. (No modei.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that [,Joaarm Sorrmrrga subject of the King of Prussia,German Emperor, residing at Goblentz, in the German Empire, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machines, ofwhich the followingis a specification.

My present invention involves improvements on my machine for knittingstockings, [O &c., for which I filed application for Letters Patent inthe United States May 12, 1887, Se-

rial No. 238,021, the essential features of which are a rotating spiraland an oscillating needle which catches the meshes from one end of the x5 spiral, the said needle being displaceable and movable in such amanner that the paths or courses described or traveled over by it may bemade to incline from opposite directions spiral.

My improvements,described hereinafter, relate to a mesh-turner operatingin connection with such a spiral and coacting needle, by

means of which it is possible to form ribbed knitting correctly.

Before describing the construction of the v mesh-turner and the way inwhich it acts it is necessary to describe the principle of this kind ofknitting.

When a woman wants to knit ribbed work in knitting stockings, she putsthe needle alternately from the inside and from the outside,

into the last mesh that is on the knitting-needle. Vith this needle shedraws a new mesh from the outside through one old mesh, and then drawsasecond new mesh from the inside through another old mesh,and thus formstwo new meshes which lie opposite each other. These meshes are termedright and left meshes. This distinction is not very clear, for a meshwhich, when seen from the outside of the knitted fabric, is left, whenseen from the inside is right. Owing to this the terms right and leftmeshes will not be used in this specification; but instead of them itwill be said that meshes have been drawn in either from the outside orthe inside. As the knitting is a hose, there can be no mistaking ofthese expressions. If the knitting is done in the-way described in myapplication filed May to a plane laid through the axis of the bent12,1887, Serial No. 238,021, the needle n,hereinafter referred to, mustalways form meshes which have been drawn in from the outside.

I term them, briefly, out-side meshes. The needle it passes from theoutside through the falling-off mesh. In order to be able to form withthis needle n,which is always moved and oscillated regularly, meshesthat lie opposite to those just described, or, in other words, to forminside meshes, the following conditions 6 are necessary: First of all amesh-turner must be applied between the needle n and spiral end 8. Thismes11-turner must turn the. mesh that falls off end 8 by. one hundredand eighty degrees before the needle n passes through the 6 old mesh.The needle n passes,therefore, from the inside through this mesh of thehose, and consequently an inside mesh is formed.

The mesh-turner can be arranged in two ways, either with a stationary orwith a movable oscillation-axle. Both modifications are represented inthe drawings.

For the sake of greater clearuess, the meshturner with a movableoscillation-axle will be described first.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in front view the knittingmachine withthe meshturner lying before it. Fig. 2 shows a top view thereof in apartial section through line a: y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a side viewofthe machine. Fig. 4 shows a front view of the spiral ends and themesh-turner. Fig. 5 shows a top view of the same. Figs. 6 to 13 showdifferent positions of the spiral ends and of the mesh-turner during theformation of atwisted mesh, the mechanisms for moving the meshturnerbeing not shown in these figures. Fig.

14 shows a front view of the spiral ends and the position of themesh-turner during the formation of a common mesh. Figs. 15 to 17 0 showa modification of the mesh-turner in different positions. Fig. 17" showsdetailed views of the modified mesh-turner.

The machine in general is similar to that, shown and described in myapplication filed May 12, 1887, Serial No. 238,021, and the differentmain parts will therefore herein be briefly referred to.

sis the knitting spiral with its two ends, 8's.

n is the needle through which the yarn runs. roo

turner are as follows: The sickle shaped bent mesh-turner m m, Fig. 4,is'firmly connected with a cog-wheel, l, which revolves on the axle 2ofthe arm 3. 'The arm 3 is in its turn firmly connected with thecog-wheel 4, which sits loose on the axle 5. The bearing of the v axleis in the support T, and the axle cannot rotate in it. The axle bearsthe non-rotating sector 6, which gears into the cog-wheel 1. The rack Tis moved to and fro by lever 'l and carve-disk T, and whenever it movesthe cog-wheel 4 oscillates, the mesh -turner m m being forced tooscillate also, which it does in the way shown in Figs. 6 to 13. Thecenter of the mesh-turner describes a semicircle, and the sickle of themesh-turner likewise turns by one hundred and eighty degrees. Thisturning of the sickle serves to turn the mesh, or, in other words, toform an inside mesh. It proceeds in the following way: Whenever theslide-roller T" of the leverT is in a hollow of the curve-disk T, Fig.2, the mesh-turner is in theposition shown in Fig.

\ 6. The spring T makes roller T lie constantly against disk T In Fig 6the needle n has Just: hung up the mesh m m on end 8" of the spirals,and the spiral end 8, which turns in the direction of the arrow, willdrop the mesh a: in a moment. This would occur if the sickle m of themesh-turner m m did not pass into' the mesh from-the right and catch itup.

Fig. 7 shows the position of the mesh-turner at when it has turned sofar and when its cen ter has sunk so much that it holds the meshsecurely. It must be observed that the side of the mesh turned towardthe sickle-arm m was that which was on the outside of the hose. The sidethat is turned toward the sickle'point has therefore been the inside ofthe mesh. During this-time the needle n recedes completely. Fig. 8showsitin its extreme position. In Fig. 9 the needle nhas advanced again, andin Fig. 10 the sickle of the mesh-turner is in such a position that whenthe needle n advances it can pass into the inside of the mesh x. Indoing so the needle passes close behind the mesh-turner.- The meshturnerhas thus completed its one oscillation. It recedes then,

and the contrary oscillation takes place. Now

it draws itself out of the turned mesh, as it is shown in Figs. 11 and12. The mesh x, which has been taken off the spiral end 8' and is nowhanging on the needle 7, in combination with I the mesh 00* x :0 whichis hung up on s when the needle has advanced enough, Fig. 13, formsaninside mesh,for w w a? has been con-. duetedinto the 01d mesh w from theinside.

In Figs. 6' to 13 the driving-wheels for the mesh-turner are not shown,but the course of the axle of the mesh-turner is indicated by a dottedline. When the needle recedes, Figs.

. 6 and 7, the hangingmcsh slips off the needle n.

3. I will describe first Fig. 7 shows the mesh B when it has slipped ohand is hanging in mesh 00 m The motion of the mesh turner is dependent,as isevident, on the curve of the curve-disk.

If the elevation is so slight that the mesh-turner is moved a littleonly out of the position represented in Fig. 6, the mesh-turner willonly catch up the falling mesh and hold it, as shown in Fig. 14. Themeslrturner may be caused to remain so long in this position that theneedle n will reach the position in Fig. 10, and the needle will passthen from outside into the unturned mesh. A common outside mesh will hethus formed, and the mesh-turner, which has performed only a shortforward oscillation, will move back then and draw itself out of themesh. The latter is then hanging on the needle n,which on moving forwardhangs up a loop as a new common outside mesh on s, according to, thedevice in the curve-disk, to

make alternately outside and inside meshes or to make two outside meshessuccessively and two inside meshes. This alternateformation of -mcshesis automatic and occurs on each revolution of the axle.

In the place of this doubly oscillating meshturner, a mesh-turner with astationary oscillation-axle may be employed, as is shown in Figs. 15 to17. In this case the oscillation-axle 0 of the mesh-turner m isplaced-between thetwo spiral ends 3' given to this axle 0 by thecurve-disk T", roll T lever T, and rack-bar T? in the same way as it isshown in the case of axle 5 in Figs. 1 to turner more exactly. It hasthree ribsmrr, Fig. 5, the two last-named ribs being set opposite eachother and the mesh-turner being slightly narrow at that part on whichthe said ribs 1",? are. In addition to this the meshturner has a slit,i".

The working. (action) of this oscillating mesh-turner is as follows; Themesh :0, that falls offend s',is caught up by the mesh-turner, which,owing to its oscillating motion in the Au oscillating motion is theshape of this meshdirection of the arrow 1 Fig. 15, enters the,

mesh from the inside and holds it up. If a common outside mesh hasto beformed, the mesh-turner remains in the position shown in Fig. 15, enterthe mesh x from the outside. The ribs WW" assist the needle in'cnteringthe mesh,for they form a hollow under the mesh .10 while it lieson-them, and into this hollow the needle can enter with case. In takingup the mesh the needle passes between the two ribs, catches up the mesh,and hangs it up on spiral end 3.

and on its course the needle a will.

The mesh-turner may remain in its position till the needle has retiredagain and has drawn itself out of the mesh-turner; but the meshturncrcan also go back before that; but, if an ,inside mesh has to be formed,the meshturner does not remain in the'position indicated in Fig. 15, butcontinues to rotate in the direct-ion of the arrow '0. In continuingthis oscillatingmotion in the directionof arrow'u the mesh-turner willslide still farther into the mesh and finally carries the mesh alongwith it, as shown in Fig. 16. It must be noticed that during theoscillation of the mesh-turner that has j us* occurred,and amounted toabout one hundred and eighty degrees, the mesh itself'has turned verylittle, for the thickline indicating the outside d of the mesh is stillquite on the outside of the machine, and, besides that, below. The meshor will not turn before the meshturner has oscillated farther, as isshown in Fig.17, and in doing that it slides over the rib 1". The meshis always endcavoring to move down ward,and as it is lifted by the lastportion of the forward movement of the mesh'turner, (see Figs. 16 and17,) and as it resists as much as possible the twist given it by themeshturner, it is forced out of the position shown in Fig. 16 into thatof Fig. 17.

In Fig. 16 themesh lies over the narrowest part of themcsh turner; butowing to the continued movement it slips onto the broaderpart, as shownin Fig. 17. \Vhen the mesh is in this position, the needle it crossesthe meshturner. As is evident from Fig. 17, the needle enters the meshfrom the former inside of the mesh x, and in this way a twisted or in-'side mesh is formed. After the new mesh has been hung up, the meshturner withdraws from it.

A characteristic peculiarity in the arrangement of the mesh-turner is,that it oscillates round an axle lying in front of the two ends of thebent spiral. This oscillation-axle ot the mesh-turner may either bestationary or may perform a motion of its own. Another characteristicpeculiarity of this mesh-turner is that it forms the ribs in theknitting by merely-hanging up and holding fast a certain number of themeshes of the hose without turning them, and by turning a certain numberof the meshes by about one hundred and eighty degrees, by which action aribbed appearance is given to the hose.

This mesh-turner turns the mesh that falls off the spiral by one hundredand eighty degrees before the k nitting-needle passes through this mesh,and forms a new mesh. The purpose of this mesh-turner is to enable theproduction of ribbed knit fabric such as is commonly seen in the upperends and legs of stockings. With the aid of this mesh-turner this ribbedknitting is performed by one needle without its being necessary tounthread and rethread it. The mesh-turner oscillates by aboutone hundredand eighty degrees. In this case the mesh is turned round completely,and owing to that it is of great surety for the needle passing throughthe turned mesh.

For the purpose of forming the inside mesh the spiral end 8 mustbe'displaced from its usual position and must be turned back by aboutninety degrees, so that the position ot the needle n to the spiral end 8is altered. This gives the mesh-turner time enough to seize the meshfalling off the spiral end 8 and to turn it before the needle passesthrough the mesh. position it has hitherto occupied, (application SerialNo. 238,021,) the mesh falls off itdirectly onto the needle n, thatstands under it.

This mesh-turner assists the format-ion of not only inside but also ofoutside meshes, because the spiral end 8 is turned back by ninetydegrees. If itdid not work, the outside meshes When the'spiral end 8 isin the old would fall off the spiral end 8' without there being anythingto take them up. The needle n is not yetarrived with its point under thespiral end 8, which has been turned back. The mesh-turner must thereforealso catch up the outside meshes when they fall off and hold them tillthe needle it passes through them from theoutside. As the mesh-turnerdoes not turn the mesh in this case, the motion of the mesh-turner mustbe very slight,of course. It must move forward only far enough to catchup the mesh and hold it. It has not to turn the mesh in this case, forto form an outside mesh the mesh lies just right for the needle.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of myinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, 1s-

' l 1. In knitting-machines, the combination of an oscillatingmesh-turner, m, and the bent spiral s with an eyed needle, n, for thepurpose as described.

2. In knitting-machines, the combination of an oscillating mesh-turner,an, the bent spiral s, and an eyed needle, n, with the oscillating arm3, the cog-wheels 1 and 6, and shaft 5, for the purpose as described.

3. The combination of a bent spiral, s, with an eyed needle, n, and anoscillating meshturner, m, oscillating arm 3, the eog-wheels 1 and 6,cog-wheels t, rack T, levcrT, axle 5, and the cam-disk, for the purposeas described. I

It witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

O. MUHLNER, B. R01.

